The next day.
Kane was summoned by Isaac early in the morning.
He had a good idea of what it was about.
He had to postpone his meeting with Sasha and Rose.
He opened the status window he hadn't checked since passing out from exhaustion yesterday.
—
[Kane Rehinar (Lv.-)]
Grade: ★★★★☆
Age: 21
Job: Young Master of Rehinar
Mana favorability: Blood Bond (A+) [3 Runes]
—
– Basic Abilities –
[Health: C]
[Mana: C]
[Constitution: SSR]
[Strength: C]
[Agility: C]
Unique Traits: Pure-Blooded (UR), Mana Drain (SSR), Five Elements Blood Extreme Body (SSR+)
General Traits: Endurance (S), Concentration (S)
Unique Skills: Blood Tiger's Breath (S+), Blood Phoenix's Breath (S+), Blood Dance (SSR+)
—
"Mid-tier 4th class knight. But this body's potential exceeds even the Twelve Star Lords."
In his previous life as Ray Hatzfeld, he had two nicknames.
One was the Demon of Red Blood.
The other was Ascendant Star.
As one of the Twelve Star Lords, he knew well the level of power they held.
The foundation of the current Kane Rehinar surpassed that of the Twelve Star Lords.
"No wonder the Celestials feared the Blood Knight."
This was why the Celestials from heaven placed the House of the Sun, the Meyer Family, as their divine proxies, God's agents.
To keep an eye on the inevitable emergence of Blood Knights.
"This Five Elements Blood Extreme Body must be the power of a Blood Knight."
—
[Five Elements Blood Extreme Body]
Type: Trait
Grade: SSR+
Description: The Five Elements Blood Extreme Body can amplify the powers of the elements (water, fire, wood, wind, blood) to the utmost through blood energy.
Effects: Nullifies physical overload, doubles mana drain rate, elemental blood transformation, maximally expands mana circuits, maximally expands mana container
—
As expected of an SSR+ grade, the effects were outrageous.
His mana container had expanded to an ocean-like size.
Despite continuously absorbing mana, it showed no signs of filling up.
The mana recovery rate of Blood Tiger's Breath and Blood Phoenix's Breath was unparalleled.
Even these two breathing techniques struggled to fill his mana.
His mana container had grown abnormally large.
"It's interesting to have stats I couldn't reach even as the Ascendant Star."
The thought of becoming stronger always thrilled him.
How powerful would he become if he surpassed the Twelve Star Lords?
Would he truly possess a power that even the gods feared?
His heart raced.
"Just wait a little longer, Hatzfeld. I will crush you thoroughly."
Revenge was near.
The opportunity was close.
As he resolved to utterly destroy them, he arrived at the Crown Prince's palace.
Isaac spread his arms wide upon seeing Kane.
"My brother!"
"Since when was I your brother?" Kane asked.
"Does it matter? The important thing is that our relationship has taken a step forward," Isaac replied with a sly smile.
He was indeed a smooth talker.
He had been like this even when they were enemies in past life.
A persistent leech.
"How's your body?"
"If you've absorbed the poison, aren't you supposed to be dying like His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Are you really okay? You look much better than yesterday, like someone who took a miracle elixir."
Isaac's constant chatter finally made Blata explode.
"Who is this noisy guy?!"
"We agreed you'd stay quiet."
"But, no! This guy just keeps talking so much my ears are about to bleed."
Yesterday, Kane had endured endless pestering from Isaac for entering the imperial palace without him. Today, he brought Blata along.
They had agreed that Blata would stay quiet while in the palace.
But due to Isaac, Blata couldn't keep the promise and now glared at him.
Meanwhile, Isaac's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"What kind of creature is this chubby thing?"
"It's a blood tiger cub."
"Are you talking about the mutant monster, the blood tiger?"
"Yes."
"Could it be that this creature exuded that strange killing intent yesterday?"
Isaac looked at the cub with uncertain eyes.
Kane just shrugged.
He neither confirmed nor denied it.
At that moment, Isaac clapped his hands together.
"Why didn't I think of this sooner? If I raise a mutant monster, I'll have another companion to talk to!"
Typical Isaac.
"I should raise a mutant monster too. Which one would be good? Do you have any recommendations?"
Isaac's manner of addressing Kane changed from informal to formal.
Kane didn't pay attention to Isaac's change and answered casually.
"How about a Blood Shuet?"
"A Blood Shuet! Are you a genius? You recommended the owl-type mutant monster that symbolizes Fresia. Amazing!"
Was it really something to get so excited about?
Kane had suggested it offhandedly because he was annoyed, but Isaac took it enthusiastically.
"I must find the habitat of the Blood Shuet and raise one as my pet spirit."
Isaac clenched his fist determinedly.
Seeing this, Blata whispered to Kane.
"Kane, I think this guy is a bit stupid."
Who would want to listen to such long-winded talk?
Even during the game, Isaac's dialogue texts were incredibly long.
Despite knowing this, there was only one reason Kane answered Isaac's questions so diligently!
Skipping his dialogue would prevent hidden rewards from being unlocked.
Favorability with Isaac had significant relevance.
And as expected.
—
[Isaac von Fresia's favorability has increased by +1.]
[Isaac von Fresia's favorability has increased by +1.]
[Isaac von Fresia's favorability has increased by +1.]
...
...
...
[Isaac von Fresia's favorability has increased by +1.]
—
Just listening to his stories was steadily increasing his favorability towards Kane.
This favorability would be crucial when Kane eventually left the capital.
This is why Kane was patiently listening to the tedious conversation.
"Shh. There's such a thing as a well-meaning lie. Just play along," Kane whispered.
"Got it. But Blata can tell this guy has a screw loose," Blata confirmed, once more solidifying his opinion.
—
"From here on, you have to go in alone," Isaac said, stopping in his tracks.
He pointed to the imperial treasury, a place where the continent's rarest treasures were saved.
"How far can I go?" Kane asked.
"His Majesty the Emperor has granted you access up to the mythical grade."
"I am honored."
"But you can only choose one item."
"I understand."
As Kane was about to enter the treasury, Isaac called out, "Wait!"
Blata, nestled in Kane's arms, quickly chimed in, "I'm part of Kane!"
"Not that. You need to choose your item carefully. Hmm."
Isaac rubbed his chin, thinking. He then recommended a few items.
"Either the Moonlight Sword used by the Moonlight Emperor, the Moon Elixir that boosts mana, or if you can't find those, choose the Necklace of the Sun. Got it?"
Kane eyed Isaac for a moment.
"Why?"
"Don't those three items happen to be the ones you want?" Kane looked Issac suspiciously.
"Ahem, they're just the best options. I'm not a greedy person."
Yet, his eyes sparkled like starlight.
He was truly transparent.
'It's surprising that such a person is the Crown Prince of the Fresia Empire,' Kane thought.
The Crown Prince of Falling Blood. That had been Isaac von Fresia's alias in the past. It seemed so ill-fitting now.
Kane shook his head slightly and entered the treasury with a small smile.
Left alone, Isaac crossed his arms and started worrying out loud.
"Will he find it? He should come out with at least one of the three I mentioned."
"All the artifacts in the treasury are good, but what if he picks something with lower performance?"
"Should I give him another chance?"
Isaac was lost in his thoughts, worrying about every possible outcome.
Just then, a cold voice called out, "Brother!"
Isaac turned his head to see a beautiful woman approaching, her presence brightening the surroundings.
"Wendy?"
She was Wendy von Fresia, the first princess of the Fresia Empire and two years younger than the Crown Prince.
"You took my guest while I was away!"
"Kane was your guest?"
"I invited him to the Star Ball!"
"I didn't know that."
"Return him at once."
Isaac frowned at her demand.
"Is Kane an object to be returned?"
"That's none of your concern."
"When will you ever change your tone?"
"Where is he?"
"By His Majesty's order, he went into the treasury."
"What have you been up to while I was away? And why are you keeping me from seeing Father?"
"Do I have to report to you?" Isaac retorted sharply.
His demeanor was completely different from when he was with Kane.
"I'm just curious, are you hiding something?"
"I have no intention of arguing with you. I'll tell Kane you're looking for him when he comes out of the treasury, so go back."
Princess Wendy glared at Isaac.
"Rehinar will be on my side."
"Do you plan to marry Kane? It seems so, since you sent him an invitation yourself."
"So, you knew he was my guest and still took him away!"
She dreamt of becoming the emperor.
The continent's first empress.
But there was one obstacle.
The Crown Prince was too robust.
To ascend the throne, she needed to eliminate him first.
'I can't let Isaac have Rehinar.'
Isaac was first in line to the throne.
He would become the next emperor unless something went wrong.
However, Isaac had a weakness.
He had no alliances.
This meant his support base was weak.
If the emperor were to die suddenly, Isaac might not be able to succeed him.
'If I win over Rehinar, I'll have honor, wealth, and power.'
She couldn't let Isaac take Rehinar.
"If you pull another dirty trick like this, I won't forgive you."
Wendy warned Isaac before turning and leaving.
Isaac watched her retreating figure, a deadly glint in his eyes.
"Wendy. Do you think I don't know you're allied with Hatzfeld?"
He had tolerated it because they were blood relatives.
A sister colluding with an enemy nation to target the Fresia Empire.
She had crossed the line.
"That's it. I can't let this slide, even if you are my sister."
Isaac's muttering was deeply ominous.
* * *
Meanwhile,
Kane's eyes were wide open at the sight of the rare items around him.
Blata was equally astonished, his eyes practically popping out of his head.
"Wow, there are so many magical and holy swords! Hmm, none of this is surprising. I've seen much better stuff."
Despite his words, Blata's head was on a swivel, trying to take in everything.
Kane ignored the legendary artifacts and moved deeper inside.
He entered the room containing the mythical-grade items, a step above the legendary ones.
"Ack!" Blata yelped, catching Kane's attention.
"What's wrong?" Kane asked.
Blata jumped down from Kane's arms, hopping excitedly in front of a black longsword.
"It's Daemon's Magic Sword!"
"So what?" Kane responded dismissively.
Daemon was one of the top lords of the demon realm, a supreme overlord.
Despite hearing the name, Kane wasn't impressed.
"It's Daemon's Magic Sword, I tell you!" Blata insisted.
"It's not what I'm looking for."
"There's nothing better than this!"
Blata's frustration was evident as his pronunciation became more precise.
"The Bloodstone is better than that magic sword."
"There's also a spatial storage pouch. We could just take everything."
"No, we can only take one item from here."
The treasury was protected by a magical barrier, a ninth-class magic circle.
Breaking the rules could result in being trapped in the treasury forever.
"Ugh, but Daemon's Magic Sword is really good," Blata whined, close to tears.
While Blata lamented, Kane stood before a fist-sized red orb.
"I found it."
[Mysterious Stone]
Type: ?
Grade: ?
Description: ?
[Appraisal level too low to view information.]
[Professional appraiser required.]
Though the stone couldn't be appraised, the Blood Mark reacted to it, urging Kane to reach out and take the artifact, recognizing it as the Bloodstone.
There was one thing more certain than anything else—a professional appraiser.
"Are you really sure the Bloodstone is in there? Kane, please give it to me. Can't you give it to me?" Blata pleaded with desperate eyes, holding onto Kane's leg with his tiny paws.
"No. I need this to make something."
"Please! Give it to me!" Blata wailed, throwing himself on his back, acting like a child having a tantrum.
But Kane didn't even blink. He reached out and grasped the Bloodstone.
[You have acquired ??]
[The door of the royal treasury is closing.]
A light enveloped Kane. When he opened his eyes, he was at the entrance of the royal treasury. Blata was still there, lying down and protesting.
"Give it to me! Give it to me!"
Isaac had been waiting in front of the treasury for Kane to emerge.
"Already done choosing. What did you pick?" Isaac asked, scanning Kane's body.
"It doesn't look like a weapon. Did you pick an elixir?"
"That's a secret," Kane replied, already having placed the Bloodstone in his spatial pouch.
"Are you going to be like that with your brother?"
"As far as I know, I don't have an older brother."
"Ugh, it's disappointing how you draw such clear lines."
"Think whatever you want."
"Since you're not carrying anything, you must have picked an elixir and already consumed it. Right?"
Kane only smiled, saying nothing. Isaac was on the verge of madness, his curiosity unbearable. He had to know what Kane had chosen.
But Blata, throwing a tantrum like a child, made it impossible for Isaac to think clearly. Blata's voice was imbued with magic, making it feel like his eardrums were about to burst.